Thursday, September 17, 2009

This e-newsletter (from the 80-20 Educational Foundation, EF) takesa look at the value systems of most of the first and second general Asian Americans and compares them with those of most other Americans.

To our credit, we probably emphasize education, saving, work ethicand helping out our family members more than most Americans.

Not to our credit, we might not have sufficiently absorbed some of the better values, listed below, of most other Americans:

1. Speaking out against injustice. (Some of us don't even speak out against injustice when it is against us.)

2. Turning the negative energy of a personal tragedy into the positive energy of helping a project designed to prevent others from experiencing the same tragedy. (A huge fraction of Asian Ams. have encountered discrimination at work or in the society, few have channeled their negative experience to establish positive relief for other Asian Ams or other new immigrants.)

3. Committing a certain amount of time, money and energy to help a community's needs. This is especially so among the highly educated, and especially after they've retired. (We have a very high share of the "highly educated." Our community is not known for volunteering or giving for community needs.)

4. Having individuals like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Ted Turner. (We have a couple of equivalents. Hopefully, there will be more.)

The above have been my observations through my 54 years living in America. I am NOT a sociologist. Nor did I do research in any of the above topics that I am blabbing about. So, if I am way off base., please forgive me. If you think I may have a point that is worthy of your attention, examine thyself first, and then share the e-newsletters with others.

Why is 80-20EF sending this e-newsletter to you? EFbelieves that we can be the first generation of Americans possessing the best of both Asian and American cultures. Besides benefiting ourselves, it is also one way to give back to America.